Multiple-stage turbine.



G. 0. .GRIDLIEY.v

MULTIPLE STAGE TURBINE.

APPLICATION rmm 11mm, 1910.

1,108,497. I Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.

G. GVGRIDLEY MULTIPLE STAGE TURBINE. APPLIOATIDN FILED N017, 1910.

1, 1 08,497, Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

2 BHEBTB-SHEET 2.

0/ a 2 g 0 175 I 2- a 10 10 .l s= J 76L y 1 10 Z 7' .7 10

WTNE'EIEEE- INVENTDR...

GEORGE O. GItIDLEY, OF WINDSOR, VERMONT.

.MUL'IIPLE-STAGE TURBINE.

Tu nll whomit may concern: Be it known that I Gnonsn O. G IDLEY, of Windsor, in the county of lVn'idsor and State of Vermpnt, have inv nt c ta new a and useful Improvements in'Multiple-Stage Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide a. turbine adapted to be driven by steam or other highly expansible elastic fluid at a sufiiciently low speed to enable it to be used as a prime mover, without speedredueing gearing, and to accomplish this result by making thevelocity of the steam in its passage through the turbine relatively slow. I accomplish my object b providing a turbine having a number ofci osed chambers into which the steam may flow successively and by arranging the passages through whichthe steam flows from chamber to'chamber in such directions that the steam exerts a reaction in a direction tending to rotate the turbine. The combined areas of the. outlets from the successive chambers are progressively increasing, so

' that. a gradual expansion of the steam in the course of this flow through the turbine occurs, while the pluralit of closed chambers provides for theexpansion in a number of stages. In other words the object of the invention is to provide a multistage rea tion turbine in which the velocities of b'oththe turbine and the working fluid are kept low and the losses incidental to the passage of the working fluid between relatively stationary and moving vanes, or between oppositely moving vanes are eliminated.

The essential features of the invention may be embodied in a turbine wherein the flow of the working fluid is either axial or radial. the principles being the same in both cases. The embodiments of the invention chosen for illustration in this application show types of turbine in which theflow is" generally radial, and generally axial, respectively. Many modifications in design of either type, and combinations of the distinctive characteristics of the two types in a single turbine may be made without departing from the spirit or going beyond the scope of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a type of turbine embodying my invention, in which the flow of working fluid is generally radial. Fig. 2 represents a cross-section on line 2-2 of v Specification of Letters l'ntent.

' Application filed November 7, 1&310. Serial No. 591,004.

Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a lon itudinal section of a form of turbine embodying the invention 1n which the flow of the working fluid,- is axlal.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In this invention the entire turbine is retatable and constitutes the rotor, there being no stationary casing such as is a feature of all multistage turbines hitherto produced or designed of which I have knowled 'e; The interior of the turbine is provided with a number of chambers divided from one another by partitions. In the partitions are passages or nozzles which permit the steam or other working fluid to pass from one chamber to the next and are arranged to discharge as nearly opposite to the direction of rotation of the turbine as possible, so that thesteam in passing through them exerts a reaction tending to rotate the turbine.

Tn the type of turbine chosen for illustration in Figs. 1 and 2, the rotor 1 is given a disk-like form and is provided in its interior with chambers, 2, 3 and 4 which are concentric and are divided from one another by partitions 5, 6 and 7 respectively. In this particular embodiment of the invention three chambers and inclusion partitions are shown, but the number is not material to the invention and may be more or less than the number shown.

The rotor is provided with trunnions 8 and 0, one of which is tubular and opens into 1 the central chamber 2, a. pipe or coupling 9 being provided to conduct the steam thereto. This pipe or coupling is necessarily stationary, and any form of packing 10 to prevent leakage may be provided between the contacting' surfaces thereof and of the tubular trunnion.

In the partitions or walls which inclose the several chambers are passages 10 which pass through the walls on an inclination and'are so arranged as to direct the steam at as nearly right angles to the direction of rotation of the turbine as possible, so that the reaction of the steam may exert an im- Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

pellingz force. Preferably also the passages are enlarged in cross'sectional area from their inlet to their discharge ends so as to fgrm expanding nozzles to develop the ve locity of the steam in themost efficient manner. In the radial flow type here illustrated the passages are as nearly tangential to the ring-shaped partitions as possible, but in an Fi l 1 zles may be extended as far as is necessary to sec-urea gradual step-by-step reduction of the steam pressure from that at which it is delivered from the boiler to the pressure of the atmosphere or in a con denser, and it may be so great that there is a difference of pressure of only a very few pounds between successive chambers. The number of stages, and the area of the nozzles conducting the steam to each stage are designed according to the difference between the initial and exhaust pressures, and the speed at which the turbine is intended to run. These elements will accordingly vary in different turbines according to the conditions governing each case, being so designed in any case as to keep the speed of the turbine down to a relatively slow speed without loss of efficiency, and to carry the steam through as many stages of expansion as may be necessary to develop all of its energy.

Tn those turbines of the reaction type hitherto designed, either the speed of rotation has been excessive, or where this is not the case, it has been considered necessary to proride a fixed casing with sets of guide vanes projecting between rows of vanes or bucketson the rotor. According to my invention I eliminate the stationary casing and inclose the receiving chambers or spaces between the successive reaction passages wholly in the rotor. thereby wholly preventing wasteful leakage of steam and loss of energy, and design the parts in such manner that the difference in pressure between any two successive stages is so slight that the velocity of the steam in flowing through the passages or nozzles is comparatively low, and therefore the velocity imparted thereby to the rotor is no greater than may be employed without speed-inducing gearing for driving machinery, such, for instance, as an electric generator. As the steam after expanding from stage to stage is increased in volume, the combined area of the nozzles is made successively greater in each succeeding partition either by increasing the number of nozzlesor by increasing their cross-sectional area, in order to take care of theproper amount of steam at its increased volume. As, however, in the case of the radial flow type, the linear extent of the outer partitions is greater than that of the inner,

reater numbers of pasages may be formedin them than in'the others without spacing them more closelytogether. The "number and size of passages in each partition is,

however, a matter of calculation for each engine and is governed by the speed atwhich the engine is to run and the amount of expansion in each stage.

As a practical detail of construction, the rotor in the radial-flow 'type may conveniently be made in .two parts in the form of disks, one of which carries the ribs, and the other of which is provided with plane surfaces adapted to fit closely a ainst the ribs and to be bolted to the first disk. The hollow trunnion may be formed'upon or attached-to either one. of the disks and the other may be formed with or secured to a shaft section or trunnion which is coupled to an electric generator or any other piece of machinery whichis to be driven.

Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of the same principles in an axial flow turbine. Here the turbine consists of a hub portion having trunnions at its ends mounted in bearings, one of which trunnions as 8 is provided with an inlet passage forthe steam. Surrounding the hub are flanges or disks'5, 6, 7 7*. 11 and'12 respectively, which are surrounded by a casing. The latter is for structural reasons a separate piece'from the hub and disks, but it is tightly fitted thereto and when in place forms with the latter a unit structure. The partitions divide the space inclosed between the hub and casing into chambers 2. 3, 4, 4 and 4 respectively, which are entirely closed from each other except for the passages or nozzles 10 in the disk partitions. The steam or other working fluid which is admitted first to the chamber 2* passes through the passages or nozzles in the partition disk 5 into the chamber 3 and thence successively into the receiving chambers 4*, 4 and 4 until it finally passes through the nozzles in the endmost disk 12 into the atmosphere or a condenser. The passages 10 are preferably formed in this case also as expanding nozzles to enable the same to expand in passing from one stage to the next and convert its pressure energy into velocity. Increasing areasin the nozzles of the successive stages to accommodate the steam in its successive stages of expansion are provided for by making the nozzles in each disk of greater radial extent than those in the next preceding disk. The same result could be secured by providing greater numbers of nozzles in the successive disks. or by making the nozzles wider, but I consider the system of making them successively deeper as the best for the purpose.

It will be seen that the principles of the invention are the same when applied to the axial flow turbine as in the radial flow. since thesteam in passing through the inclined' nozzles 10" exerts a rotating impulse by reaction, and that -in passing through each set of nozzles, it is carried to a greater v from the axis, whereby projections producworking fluid.

- prising a rotor having a series of closed degree of expansiom All parts of the rotor a in this formof turbine rotate in unison and curved concentrically with the axis of r0 'tl'n-a'n elastic fluid turbine, a rotor hav- 4O 'low trunnion for admitting the working fluid totone of said chambers. and nozzles through which the steam is discharged. into the receiving chambers between the several. chambers of expansion are formedin the rotor itself instead of in stationary inclosing'casings.

I claim s 1. A reaction turbine consistingoflarot-ating member having end Walls: and: concentric outer and inner cylindricahwalls connected and rotating in unison, each said. cylindrical wall inclosing a chamber for working fluid and each having ap roximately tangential nozzle passages, and means for admitting the working fluid to the chamber nearest the axis, said walls having'itheir outer surfaces flush with the discharge orifices of the nozzles, and beingwontinuously tation. between adjacent nozzles. 4

' 2. A rotor having disk-like end walls and intermediate concentric inner and" outer cylindrical walls all r'otating'in unison, said cylindrical walls having approximately tan ge-ntial nozzle passages, and each of said walls having all points on its outer and inner surfaces at equal radial distance respectively tive of retarding fan action are eliminated.

An elastic-tluid-impelled turbine. comprislng a single r0tor.having internally inclosed "chambers, and inclined nozzles arranged to conduct the working fluid from one chamber to the next, and finallyentirely' out of the rotor, the partitions between the chambers being of uniform thickness and containing, the nozzlesentirely between their bounding surfaces.

ing a plurality of inclosed chambers, a holarranged bet-ween the successive chambers and ent rely inclosed within the walls thereof, in directions approaching'the path of rotation to drive the rotor by reaction of the 5. A multi-stage reaction turbine, com-V chambers in its interior, means for admittingsteam, to one of said chambers,. a nozzle the, next chamber in such'a direction as to drive-the rotor by its reaction, and a dis charge nozzle arrangedto permit, escape of the steam from such chamber tangentially," to impart a further driving, force to the rotor, the discharge orifice of such nozzle blllfig in theuouter surface of the chamber Va i 0A" turbine comprising a rotating-them? ber provided with a plurality of sets of passages arranged concentrically offthe-axis oi rotation, said passages having their out: let ends arranged to discharge in a direction Uo drive-the rotatin member by react-ion' of tlib working flu d, t 1e spaces between the'sets uniform crossvsectiona'l area at albpoint-s,

approaching the pat-livofrotation, whereby-" cfpalssages being chambers entirely closed except forsuch passages, and each being of 7".

and means for admitting working fluid. to

tlierotating member and causingsuch fluid to pass. successively through the passages hand chambers I I. A multl-stage reaction turbine having J pf steam from one chamber to the next, which passages are contained wholly between the inner and outer surfaces of the 9. A turbine, comprising arot'ary disk havingin its interior a central chamber and co-axial. annular chambers, said chambers being entirely inclosed by'thc ends or faces of the: disk and being separated one from another by circular partitions, said partitions having inclined, passages to permit working fluidito pass' from one chamber to the next and to impar rotating pressure in 'tions having inclined passages for the flow partitions, and means for admitting steam v to the central chamber. i

thus. passing, and the partitions being a smooth on their outersurfaces. v

I 10. A multi stage reaction steam turbine comprisinga rotor having axially alined trunnions, one of which is tubular ior admitting steam at its axis and having means .for expelling. the steam tangentially at a distance from the axis, said rotor having also areceiving chamber into which the steam discharged from the discharge meansiscontained, said chamber being at a greater distance from the axis than the discharging means, said tangentially arranged discharging means having itsoutlet flush with-thewallof the inner chamber, for permitting steam to pass from said. chamber and to impel the rotor in so passing.

11. A reaction turbine consisting of a rotating element having alined trunnions,

and having inner and outer cylindrical walls annular spaces, the innermost wall surrounding a space in the center of the rotating element, one of said trunmons having a passage communicating with said central space andt-he several cylindrical wallshaving substantially tangential outlet passages.

12, AC reaction turbine comprising a series of spaced parallel revoluble diaphragm In testimony whereof I haveaffixed my having substantially smooth surfaces, nozzle signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

lHl'fOI'EltlOnS (Xtlldll'lg through 311d located 7 I O entirely within the boundaries of saia' diax I I phragms and a casing revoluble .With and \Vitnesse'sz' marginally closing the spaces between said W. J. SAXIE,

diaphragms. i v RU H P. KEY S. 

